Gin is no longer just a strong spirit mixed with tonic and a slice of lemon. The development of gin has gone from strength to strength so to say in recent years. Not just an option behind a bar anymore, in Winchester there are now gin bar, a distillery and The Blend Academy where you can make your own gin!

Winchester Distillery

Located just 10 minutes walk from the city centre head to Winchester distillery, home to many fine gins including Twisted Nose, Round Table Gin and Gunpowder Gin.

Join Winchester Distillery behind the scenes and take an immersive tour of the distillery's production areas followed by a tutored tasting experience in the tasting room.

The comprehensive tour will include a fun, casual but informative journey through the distillation process showing the detail that goes into making the range of spirits, followed by an in depth tasting of 3 spirits in the tasting room.

The tour and tasting will last approximately 1-1.5 hours including exclusive access to the shop for those who wish to take something home.

To book the tour head to Winchester Distillery website here

The River Test Distillery

Based in nearby Andover is The River Test Distillery. 

The River Test Distillery craft ‘True River Spirit’ on the banks of the world famous River Test, in the heart of the English countryside in Hampshire.

The river is internationally renowned for its fly fishing and ‘gin-clear waters' and it is this backdrop that provides the inspiration behind The River Test Distillery.

We wanted to make an outstanding gin, a gin which both complements a premium tonic and is distinctive enough to be enjoyed neat, as a sipping gin, simply with ice.

The distillery describe their gin as "the spirit of the river and its botanicals in a bottle, which in itself tells our story."

Read more about The River Test Distillery story on their website here

Isle of Wight Distillery

A bit further afield, but a lovely day trip out, is the Isle of Wight Distillery.

Founded in 2014, the Isle of Wight Distillery is the island’s first and only distillery and the home of Mermaid Gin. 

Rooted in the natural landscape of a unique island, our small team distil spirits shaped by our stunning surroundings and the unique character of our island. Doing things differently, minimising waste and using ethically sourced and often local ingredients to craft a range of smooth, complex spirits. 

To find out more head the Isle of Wight Distillery website here

The Blend Academy

Owned by the same inventive minds behind the Winchester Distillery, and soon to be housed in the same building, is The Blend Academy. The academy is dedicated to the creation, tasting and enjoyment of gin. And everyone's invited! 

The heart of the Blend Academy is the Blending Room - a dedicated research laboratory where visitors can learn the art of gin-making and create their very own personalised gin recipe to blend, bottle and take home.

Book your blend experience here 

Incognito

A full theatrical extravaganza waits you at Incognito.
The details of the experience are shrouded in secrecy but needless to say a opulent night will be had by all who attend.

To find out more and book your tickets head to the website here